Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage

Rush

Book One --- The Voyage
Prologue

In the constellation of Cygnus
There lurks a mysterious, invisible force
The Black Hole
Of Cygnus X-1

Six Stars of the Northern Cross
In mourning for their sister's loss
In a final flash of glory
Nevermore to grace the night...

1

Invisible
To telescopic eye
Infinity
The star that would not die

All who dare
To cross her course
Are swallowed by
A fearsome force

Through the void
To be destroyed
Or is there something more?
Atomized --- at the core
Or through the Astral Door ---
To soar...

2

I set a course just east of Lyra
And northwest of Pegasus
Flew into the light of Deneb
Sailed across the Milky Way

On my ship, the 'Rocinante'
Wheeling through the galaxies,
Headed for the heart of Cygnus
Headlong into mystery

The x-ray is her siren song
My ship cannot resist her long
Nearer to my deadly goal
Until the Black Hole ---
Gains control...

3

Spinning, whirling,
Still descending
Like a spiral sea,
Unending

Sound and fury
Drowns my heart
Every nerve
Is torn apart....


Lyrics submitted by shed27

Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment
    The slow-strumming guitar at the end with the subtle heart-beat in the background is an awesome sort of cliff-hanger ending. It sounds very suggestive that there is something on the other side of Cygnus X-1. Goddamn this band is talented.
    Nebuchadnezzaron November 13, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    This song has the most amazing bass intro.
    HalfaMatton July 06, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    i have a feeling thier may be more to this song then meets the eye
    last_standon June 12, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I think this song was somewhat diminished by its connection with the next portion on hemispheres. Before hemispheres, it was just about someone going out on an adventure for no reason other than curiosity. He dared brave the vastness of the cosmos for the sake of adventure, to follow his dreams of discovery. With Hemispheres, we find out that he was going to find the Gods. His adventure is no longer for the sake of adventure, but is instead a desperate call for help. I don't know why, but it just seems like the song had more in it when it was just one man on a mission for himself.
    voice.of.reason?on October 31, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Taking a trip across space and time, w/ your eyes closed, but your mind open. Great feeling throughout the song. Especially the beginning. :)
    MSM Hobbeson December 16, 2004   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation
    Look into the name of his ship
    rushpwnsxon April 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I love when Geddy sings this part The x-ray is her siren song My ship cannot resist her long Nearer to my deadly goal Until the Black Hole --- Gains control...
    rushpwnsxon April 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I love this song (if you couldn't tell by my scree name) I know that the ship is called the Rocinate, which is the name of Don Quixote's horse. if anyone else hasn't caught that yet...
    CygnusX2on June 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I've only heard this song a couple of times, but I've been known to mumble the prologue to myself for no apparent reason on occasion. I love the entirety of the vocals, but I can't remember the rest of the song well enough to comment. However, the end of the first canto brings up an interesting point: sometimes there's no way of knowing what will happen until you try. It turned out pretty well for the narrator, but it doesn't always.
    rampagingpoeton April 09, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Damn, Part 3 is so amazing. Geddy sounds like he's ready to explode...with awesomeness.
    dondrummeron May 10, 2011   Link

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